Selector switch for phonograph circuit



Aug. 31, 1948.

A. P. MARCUS ET'AL SELECTOR SWiTQH FOR PHONOGRAPH CIRGUIT Filed March 8 1947 z sn eets-sheet 1 Aug. 31, 1948. A. P. MARCUS ET AL SELECTOR SWITCH FOR PHONOGRAPH CIRCUIT 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1947 INVENTOR. Aer/sue IDAL/L Mmecus y FEA/VK C f/ZO Patented Aug. 31, 1948 SELECTOR SWITCH FOR PHONOGRAPH CIRCUIT Arthur Paul Marcus, Cleveland Heights, and Frank C. Filo, Cleveland, Ohio, .assignors to The Markepp 00., Inc., Cleveland, Ohio Application March 8, 194.7, Serial'No. 733,312

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric switches an particularly to selector switches for remote control selective phonographs.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a selector switch for use with remote control selective phonograph systems, employing dual circuits such as disclosed in our co-pending patent applications Serial Number 694,978 filed September 5, 1946, entitled Phonograph apparatus, and Serial Number 733,313 filed March 8, 1947, entitled Automatic phonograph system.

Another object is'to provide a selector switch that is compact in structure so that a large number of selections may be made within the small space available in the standard phonograph wall box, thus enabling the public to enjoy a Wider choice of recordings.

A further object is to provide a selector switch that has a positive selective action whereby it is impossible to close more than one contact at a time.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type stated that will clearly and positively identify the selection being made at any particular setting of the selector knob.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing in which like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure l is a. comprehensive view of a wall box containing a phonograph loud speaker and a remote control selective switch embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged front view of the lower half of the wall box with a portion broken away to disclose the arrangement of certain elements therein and showing the selector switch indicator disk covering the number 15 of the indicia and also in an alternate position covering the number of the indicia;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device illustrated in the Figure 2 showing the upper selector switch arm engaged with the number switch point;

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of the Figure 3 but showing the lower selector switch arm engaged with the number 10 switch point;

Figure 5 is a top View of the selector switch taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of the Figure 3 showing the rider as it appears when the upper switch arm is engaged with the number "15 switch point and also in an alternate position in which the lower switch arm is engaged with the number 10 switch point;

Figure 6 is a right end view of the selector taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows 6--6 of the Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 'i---'! of the Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line and in'the direction of the arrows 8--8 of the Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a circuit selector made in accordance with this invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of a wall box 30 having a speaker grill which conceals a conventional loud speaker for reproducing selected recordings played by a remote phonograph, connected to the box by means of the electric cable 32. Reference characters 33, 34, and 35 indicate i a volume control knob, a selector switch knob and a coin slot respectively. Indicia 35 indicate the selections offered, the titles being on removable sheets of paper that can be changed at will to correspond with the recordings available in the phonograph.

The wall box is made of any suitable sheet material appropriately decorated and finished in accordance with well known practice in the art of cabinet making. A sheet metal frame 40- is secured in the lower section of the box as shown in the Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. The frame extends the width of the box or case 30 and has two end supports or legs 44 and and a central longitudinal rider slot 4|.

Reference character 42 indicates a first or upper series of spaced concave sockets which are punched or drilled into the frame itself. Ref- .erence character 43 indicates a similar second or lower series of spaced sockets in which the individual sockets are aligned intermediate those of the upper or first series of sockets as shown in the Figure 2.

A first dielectric block made of hard rubber, fiber or other suitable insulating material is mounted on the upper section of the frame proximate the rider slot 5 I, by means of the mounting screws 5| as shown in the Figure 2. The dielectric block has a bus bar 52 set flush with its outer surface. Reference character 53 indicates a terminal screw to which the first selective circuit master cable 57 is attached. A series, of ten spaced switch points 54 are set flush with the same surface of the dielectric block as that containing the bus bar. The switch points are aligned with the first series of frame sockets 42 as shown in the Figure 5. Reference character 5-: indicates the terminal screw of each switch point to which the first selective circuit selector wires, indicated by reference character 56, are attached. A second dielectric block 60' having a similar bus bar 62 and ten spaced switch points 64 is attached to the lower half of the frame proximate the rider slot 4! by means of the mounting screws 6!. The bus bar and switch points have terminal screws 63 and 65 respectively to which the master cable 61 and the selective circuit cables 56 of the second selective circuit are attached. The individual switch points 64 of the second dielectric block 69 are aligned intermediate the individual switch points 54 of the first dielectric block 50, as shown in the Figures 3 and 4. They are also aligned with the second series of frame sockets 43. The number of switch points in the preferred form of selector here disclosed is twenty, divided equally between the two dielectric blocks. It should be understood, however, that the number of switch points may be varied at will depending upon the space available and thenumber of selections to be made.

A rider 10 made of the same dielectric material as the stationary blocks 50 and 50 is slidably mounted between the two dielecric blocks by means of the rectangular bearing section II which engages the frame slot 4| in a sliding fit as is shown in the Figures 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8.

A locator plate 12, secured to the rider by means of the screws ll, holds the rider in the slot. The locator plate has an indicator arm 18, including an indicator disk 19 at the end thereof. The locator plate also has two holes in which the balls 74 and 1B are free to rotate between the frame 41 and the flexible socket arms 13 and 14 respectively, as shown in the Figures 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The ball 1'4 is free to engage the first series of sockets designated by the reference character 42 and the ball 16 is free to engage the second series of sockets designated by the reference character 43, as the rider slides between the two dielectric blocks. Reference character 80 indicates a first switch plate made of flexible metal such as phosphor-bronze. The plate is mounted on the rider by means of the screws 85, and has flexible contact arms 8| and 83, which slidably engage the bus bar 52 and the switch points 54 through their ball contact points 82 and 84, respectively. A similar second switch plate 95 having no electrical connection with the first switch plate is mounted on the rider by means of the screws 95.

Reference characters 9| and 93 indicate flexible arms Which engage the bus bar 62 and the switch point 84 through their ball contact points 92 and 34 respectively. The rider can be moved back and forth along the slot 4| by any of the wellknown pulley and cable arrangements, but in the preferred form illustrated a ball chain Hli is used which is held on three sprocket wheels I02, ms and I04. The chain ends are attached to either side of the rider as shown in the Figures 3, 4, and 6. The rider is caused to move by rotating the sprocket wheel I03, by means of the selector knob 34, in the direction that it is desired to move the rider.

The flexible socket arms 13 and 75 press their respective balls 14 and 16 against the frame and cause them to roll in and out of the successive sockets as the locator plate passes over them when the rider is moved along the slot 4|.

The alignment of either of the switch arms 33 or 93 with a switch point 54 or 64 is indicated by a change in the force needed to rotate the knob 34, since the socket balls '14 and 15 fall into their respective sockets 42 and 43 when the switch points are contacted in sequence. The identificaticn of the particular circuit that is completed at any position of the rider is brought about by the indicator disk 19, which covers the particular identifying symbol on the case face as shown in the Figures 1 and 2.

As will be seen from a study of the drawings this selector switch has two completely independant electric circuits which are alternately available for action when the rider is moved along the slot 4!. Looking at the Figure 2 the first cir cuit embodies the master cable 51, which carries the current to the bus bar 52. The first switch plate of the rider 18 picks up the current from the bus bar 52 by means of the bus bar arm Bl, which remains in sliding contact with the bus bar 52 in all possible positions of the rider. The switch point arm 93 then completes the first circuit thru any one of the switch points designated by the reference character 54 and thence through the various selector cables 56 of the first circuit.

The second circuit embodies the master cable 6'! which carries the current to the bus bar 62. The second switch plate of the rider [0 picks up the current from the bus bar 62 by means of the bus bar arm 9! which remains in sliding contact with the bus bar 62 in all possible positions of the rider. The switch point arm 93 then completes the second circuit thru any one of the switch points designated by the reference character 64 and hence through the various selector cables 66 of the second circuit.

For the sake of convenience in explaining the operation of the device the switch points of the first circuit have been given odd numbers from i to 19 and the switch points of the second circuit have been given even numbers from 2 to 20, as shown in the Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 2 shows the selector switch set to activate that portion of the first circuit that bears the number 15.

The rider bearing the reference character 10 has its indicator disk '19 over the index bearing the number 15. This means that the switch point arm 83 is in contact with the switch point l5. The rider (0 is held squarely in position over the switch point l5 by reason of the fact that the locator ball 13 is seated in the particular socket 42, that is aligned with the switch point 15 as is shown in the Figures 3, 5 and 7 The number "15 section of the first circuit is now set up and as soon as a coin is dropped in the coin slot 35 to close the accessory switches, which form no part of this invention, the phonograph will select the record corresponding to 15 and the recording thereon will be reproduced by the loud speaker in the wall box 30 by means well known to those skilled in the art of automatic phonograph machines.

Figure 2 also shows the rider in an alternate position designated by the reference character 10a, in which the indicator disk 19a is over the index bearing the number 10. In this situation the switch point arm 83a is intermediate the switch points 9 and 11 which means that the first circuit is open. However, the switch point arm 93a of the second circuit is in contact with the switch point 10. This time the rider 10a is held squarely in position over the switch point 10 by reason of the fact that the locator ball 16a is seated in the particular socket 43 that is aligned with the switch point 10, while the locator ball 13a now is out of its socket and is riding on top of the frame 40 as shown in the Figures 4, 5 and 8. The number 10 section of the second circuit is now set up and the deposition of a coin will cause the phonograph connected to the selector switch to select and play the number 10 recording.

While this selector switch is especially intended for use with the remote control phonograph circuit disclosed in the aforestated co-pending patforeset forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form it; is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof, as described andillustratedherein, is not to be considered in a limited-sense as there may be other forms, modifications or applications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a remote control selective phonograph circuit, a selector switch, comprising in combination, a support member having a plurality of spaced sockets thereon, a dielectric block mounted-on the support member having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points of the aforesaid circuit, the said switch points being aligned with the said sockets, a rider member slidably mounted on the support member having a first switch arm engaged with the bus bar, a second switch arm engageable with any one of the switch points and a locator arm engageable with the socket corresponding to the particular switch point engaged by the second switch arm, and pulley means mounted on the support member and attached to the rider member formoving the latter member relative to the dielectric block.

2. In a remote control selective phonograph circuit, a selector switch, comprising in combination, a case member having indicia on the face thereof, a frame member mounted in the case member having a plurality of sockets thereon, a dielectric block mounted on the frame member having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points, of the aforesaid circuit, the said switch points being aligned with the said sockets, a rider member slidably mounted on the frame member having a first switch arm engaged with the bus bar, a second switch arm engageable with any one of the switch points, a locator arm engageable with the socket corresponding to the particular switch point engaged by the second switch arm, an indicator arm co-operating with the indicia on the case member and pulley means mounted on the support member and attached to the rider member for moving the latter member relative to the dielectric block.

3. In a remote control selective phonograph having dual circuits, a selector switch, comprising in combination, a support member, a first dielectric block mounted on the support member having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points of the aforesaid first circuit, a second dielectric block mounted on the support in spaced parallel relation with the said first dielectric block, having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points of the aforesaid second circuit, the said switch points being spaced in intermediate relation with those of the first dielectric block, a rider member slidably mounted on the support member having a first switch plate including a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the first dielectric block, and a switch point arm engageable with any one of the switch points of the first dielectrio block, asecond switch plate-including. a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the second dielectric block anda switch point arm engageable with any, one ofthe switch. points of. the second dielectric bloc-k, and'pulley means mountedon the support member andattached to the rider member for moving the latter: member rela tive to the two dielectric blocks.

4. In a remote control selective phonograph having dual circuits, a selector switch, comprising in combination, a support member-having a first series of spaced sockets and asecond' series of sockets spaced in intermediate relation. with those of the first series,- a first, dielectric block mounted ,onthe support member .havingnabus and a plunality of switch points oftlreaforesaidfirst circuit, the said switchipoi-nts-being aligned with the first; series ofv sockets, a seconddielect-rie block mounted onl'the support inzspacedparr allel relation with the-said first; dielectric block having a bus bar and apluuality of switchpoint-s of the aforesaid second circuit, the saidswito'h points being spaced in intermediatev relation with those. of the first dielectric blockv and; aligned with the secon-dseries of sockets, a ri der=,.mem ber slidably. mounted. on the support member having a first switch lplate including a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the first dielectric block, and a switch point arm engagea'ble with any one of the switch points of the firs-t dielectric block, a second switch plate including a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the second dielectric block and a switch lpolnt arm eng-ageable with any one of the switch points of the second dielectric block, a. locator plate having a. first socket arm eng-ageablc with any one of the first series of sockets [and a second socket arm engageab-le with any one of the second series of sockets, and pulley means mounted on the support member and attached to the rider member for moving the latter member relative to ,the two dielectric blocks.

5. In a remote control selective phonograph having dual circuits, a selector switch, comprising in combination, a case member having ind-icia on the face thereof, a support member mounted on the case member, having a first series of spaced sockets'and a second series of sockets spaced in intermediate relation with those of the first series, a, first dielectric block mounted on the support member having a bus bar and plurality of switch points of the aforesaid first circuit, the said switch points being aligned with the first series of sockets, .a second dielectric block mounted on the suppont-in spaced parallel relation with the said first dielectric block having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points of the aforesaid second circuit, the said switch points being spaced in intermediate relation with those of the first dielectric block and aligned with the second series of sockets, a rider member slidably mounted on the support member having a first switch plate including a bus her arm engaged with the bus bar of the first dielectric block, and a switch point arm en-gag-eable with any one Otf the switch points of the first dielectric block, a second switch plate including a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the second dielectric block and a switch 'point am engageable with any one of the switch points of the second dielectric block, a locator plate having first socket arm engageable with any one of the first series of sockets and =3, second socket arm engageable any one of the second series of sockets, an indicator arm co-operating 7 with the in-d-i-cia on the case member, and pulley means mounted on the support member and attached to the rider member for moving the latter member relative to the two dielectric blocks.

6. A selector switch of the type defined in claim number 5 and further characterized by the rider member being slidably mounted between the first and second dielectric blocks.

'7. In a remote control selective phonograph having dual circuits, a selector switch, comprising in combination, a support member having a series of spaced sockets, a first dielectric block mounted on the support member having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points of the aforesaid circuit, the said switch points being aligned with alternate sockets, second dielectric block mounted on the support member in spaced parallel relation with the said first dielectric blocks having a bus bar and a plurality of switch points of the aforesaid second circuit, the said switch points being aligned with those of the first dielectric block, a rider member slidably mounted on the support member having i2, first switch plate including a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the first dielectric block, and a, switch point arm engageable with any one of the switch points of the first dielectric block, a second switch plate including a bus bar arm engaged with the bus bar of the second dielectric block and a switch point arm engageable with any one of the switch points of the second dielectric block, the said first and second switch point arms being angularly positioned with reference to each other whereby they are incapable of engaging their respective switch points simultaneously, a locator plate having a socket arm engageable with any one of the sockets, and pulley means mounted on the support member and attached to the rider member for moving the latter member relative to the two dielectric blocksv ARTHUR PAUL MARCUS. FRANK C. FILO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 450,441 Whipple Apr. 14, 1891 844,090 Bijur Feb. 12, 1907 

